Heartbeat of Lady Lions Begins with Wolfe

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -After being diagnosed with
concussion like symptoms that would likely sideline her for all of the
2012-2013 Lady Lion basketball season, Marisa Wolfe had a choice to make. The
senior captain could either sulk about her injury or make an impact on her
preseason Big Ten favorite Lady Lion squad.

Wolfe chose the latter, but it didn't come easy. It took a little while
for her to adjust to not being able to contribute on the court.

"One of the hardest times was our first game where my family was here, but I
wasn't coming out in a uniform," said Wolfe. "It was probably right after that,
though, when I thought I needed to step up as a captain and play that role as
best as I can and do the things off the court that I can do the most."

The 6-foot-2 forward that saw significant minutes one year ago has now
transitioned into her role on the bench as a leader and as what her head coach
called her, the "mother hen" of her No. 8 ranked squad.

What does this mother hen do? Everything except play in the game itself. While
that is still something Wolfe is adjusting to, she has accepted her role simply
by not changing anything in terms of practice and interacting with her
teammates and coaches.

"It's still hard, it's always going to be hard," said Wolfe. "Just being around
the team and seeing them work hard makes it better. Keeping them positive and
myself staying positive has really helped instead of drowning in my sorrows."

Wolfe has continued to be a leader on the bench, but just in a different form.
She participates in drills in practice, while telling her teammates what to do
in particular situations. In games, she's on the bench relaying messages from
her coaches to her players.

Essentially, according to head coach Coquese Washington, Wolfe has become
another assistant coach.

"It's tough not seeing her out there," said Washington. "There are some nights
I go, 'man I wish (Wolfe) could play'. But, she's in practice every day with a
wonderful attitude. She's like another assistant coach out there working with
the post players and you see her under the basket talking to Candice (Agee) and
helping her understand what we are supposed to do."

By communicating with Washington and assistant coach Maren Walseth, Wolfe
believes she has started to look at the game differently.

Through this change, she has started to look at the game from a coach's perspective
and by having Walseth, Washington and the rest of the coaches supporting her
changing role; it has become a satisfying experience.

Now, Wolfe has continued to expand her role as a leader, especially with the
younger post players, Tori Waldner and Candice Agee.

"Marissa was already a captain and she maintains that role still, but she's
also more of a post leader now," said Waldner. "The coaches have asked her to
tell us what they want and she has to vocalize that to us. She helps us with
our drills, comes earlier, stays after and she really has stepped up in being a
really big player for us off the court."

Wolfe hasn't completely separated herself from the game just yet, though. She
still shoots; she still trains, all to be a voice and a role model for her
teammates. However, when the season is over, Wolfe will move on from
basketball.

The Ford City, Pa. native is a communication sciences and disorders major, with
a minor in human development and family studies and is also the Student Athlete
Advisory Board representative for the Lady Lions.

After college, she plans to attend a grad school.
Through her studies, she has been able to use them as yet another asset on the
Lady Lion bench. In a unique way, Wolfe can communicate with her teammates on
and off the court.

"You have to be a good listener," said Wolfe. "If they need to get things out,
let them get it out. Once they're done, then I can say what I need to say to
help them."

On the road, especially, Wolfe provides a calming presence to her Lady Lion
team, and more importantly has become an example for what it takes to be a
leader.

Waldner, just a sophomore, said she has been following what Wolfe has done
during her time on the sidelines and it has set a precedent for what she wants
to do in a couple years when she becomes a leader.

Fellow senior Alex Bentley was simple when asked what Wolfe brings to the team,
using the same description as Washington: mother hen.

"(Wolfe) is pretty much the spirit of the Penn State Lady Lions," Bentley said.
"She's always talking to us, you can always hear her voice during practice,
warm ups and during the game."

In the end, for Wolfe, her four years at Penn State have had their ups and
downs, but the respect she gets from her teammates, coaches and just being able
to be around those people have made it worth it.

"You can't get this experience anywhere else," Wolfe said. "Whether you are
playing or not playing, you are still a part of it and it's something I am
going to remember for the rest of my life."